New edition of our booklet on HIV treatment side-effects

If you are
thinking about starting HIV treatment, or changing the combination of anti-HIV
drugs you take, then finding out about the possible side-effects might help you
to choose the best treatment for you.

For many
people, starting to take any new drug brings with it concerns about
side-effects. It isn’t possible to say for sure whether someone will experience
side-effects, but knowing what side-effects are commonly experienced by people
taking a particular drug can really help to prepare for taking it.

Before you
start taking a new drug, it’s really important to talk to your doctor, HIV
specialist nurse or pharmacist about the risk of side-effects and how they
might affect you. It’s also essential to tell them about any other drugs you
are taking and any medical history or lifestyle issues that might affect your
risk of experiencing side-effects.

When you’re
taking a drug, it is sometimes hard to say whether a symptom you are
experiencing is a side-effect, or something else. Talk to your doctor, or
someone else at your clinic, about any symptoms you are experiencing – don’t
just ‘grin and bear it’!

As well as
the Side-effects booklet, you might
find our online tool Talking points helpful.
It’s designed to help you prepare for discussions with your healthcare team
about HIV treatment: www.aidsmap.com/talking-points

And
remember, it’s not inevitable you’ll experience side-effects at all. If you’re
starting HIV treatment for the first time, our online tool Get
set for HIV treatment can help you prepare for it.

For more information

You can read
or download this booklet and all the other titles in this series, from our
resources pages at www.aidsmap.com/resources

We’re very
grateful to everyone who was involved in the updating of this title, in
particular the people living with HIV and the medical professionals who
reviewed and helped us to develop the text.

We would
also like to thank Wandsworth Oasis for funding which made it possible for us
to print this title. If you would like a print copy, please get in touch. If
you work in a clinic or community organisation in the UK, you can also join our free
booklet scheme. Through the scheme you can order multiple copies of our
booklets and leaflets in our illustrated series The basics. Contact us on 020 7837 6988 or info@nam.org.uk to find out more.

NAM has achieved certification with the
Information Standard, a quality mark scheme developed by the Department of
Health.

Please contact us if you have any questions,
if you would like to give us feedback on existing titles, suggestions for
future titles, or if you would like to translate or adapt any of our resources.

NAM’s information is intended to support, rather than replace, consultation with a healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor or another member of your healthcare team for advice tailored to your situation.